Stake pocket adapter

ABSTRACT

An adapter for supporting the bottom portion of a stake or post of predetermined dimensions, the device being dimensionally adjustable to be securely retained in sockets of various dimensions.

United States Patent 1 1 Woodward 1 Oct. 9, 1973 [54] STAKE POCKETADAPTER 3,674,304 7/1972 Swanson 296/43 444,375 l/189l A 105 390 176]Inventor: Elfnest Wmdward, Clrcle 1,333,990 3/1920 296/43 p H111, 170112,456,480 12/1948 Austin..... 287/126 x 3,198,562 8/1965 Smith 287/126 X[22] 1971 3,126,224 3/1964 Carter et al. 296/43 x [21] Appl, No; 210,4983,389,902 6/1968 Young 267/159 I Primary Examiner-Kenneth 1-1. Betts[52] US. Cl 296/43, 105/390, 2268770115296 Assist-am Examiner LeSlie lPapemfl 51 Int. Cl 1360 '7/06 [58] Field of Search] 296/43; 280/143;

105/382, 390, 391; 287/126; 267/159; 16/2, ABSTRACT 3 An adapter forsupporting the bottom portion of a stake or post of predetermineddimensions, the device [56] References Cited being dimensionallyadjustable to be securely retained UNITED STATES PATENTS in sockets ofvarious dimensions. 3

1,333,396 3/1920 Erret 296/ 3 6 Claims, 13 Drawing Figures ISHEEI 1 or ePATENTEU BET 9 I 75 PATENTED 9 5 SHEET 2 [IF 6 PATENTEU BET 9 975 SHEET3 BF 6 PATENTEUUEI 9 I973 SHEET 5 [IF 6 PATENTED BET 9 I975 SHEET 8 BF 6ers or railway cars which are sold without side panels,

are usually provided by .the manufacturer with sockets or stake pocketsfor anchoring stakes therein. The.

sockets are'usually in the form of short metallic sections' of openchannel form comprised of a pair of parallel side walls connected by aweb,the free ends of the side walls being provided with outwardlyextending flanges. The bed or floor of the vehicle is provided with ametallic edging strip about its sides and ends to which the flanges arewelded with the open end of the channel facing the strip, the web'facingoutwardly. It has been found that for the various makes and models ofsuch cargo carrying vehicles, there is no uniformity ofstake pocket"sizes. In addition, few pockets on any new trailer are of the exact samedimensions. It is therefore impossible to supply a standard uniformstake upright which will properly .fit all the pockets on all trailersor trucks or even on those of one such vehicle in which the pocketdimensions sometimes vary.

' In my cop'ending US. Pat. application Ser. No.

186,051 filed Oct. 4, 1971, I have disclosed stake up-' rights which areprovided with groove forming structures and which, when inserted in thepockets, receive the marginal side edge portions of panel members whichare utilized for enclosing the sides of the vehicle when it is desiredto enclose the cargo. In order to.

retaining the stake of standard uniform dimensions, up-

right. r

It is therefore a general object of this invention to provide an adapterfor enabling stake uprights of predetermined standard dimensions 'to berigidly supported in stake pockets of various dimensions.

It is a specific object of the invention to provide an insert for stakepockets of various dimensions in order to rigidly support a stake ofstandard dimensions.

In accordance with the above objects, a stake pocket insert has beenprovided which can adapt itself to the dimensions of various sizes ofpockets or which can be rigidly secured within pockets of variousdimensions to rigidly support a stake'in upright position. The structureof this insert will now be explained in detail with specific referenceto the drawings in which: a

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of adapter insert showing thestake which it is to receive and the socket into which it is to beinserted.

FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the pans along line 1-2 of FIG. I.

"FIG. 3 is a longitudinal cross-section similar to FIG. 2 showing theinsert within the socket.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a standard and an oversized insert, theoversized socket and the standard stake. I

FIG. 5 is a perspectiveview of a second form of stake pocket adapterready for insertion into the pocket and for receiving a standard stake.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the adapter of FIG. 5 assembledwithin the pocket and themeans for retaining it therein. I "i i FIG. 7is an exploded view in perspective ofa third form of adapter, the stakewhich it is to s'uppor FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view ,of the deviceof FIG.

7 further showing the stake pocket for receiving the adapter. v

FIG. 9 is a longitudinal cross-section showing the parts of FIG. 8 inassembled relation within the stake pocket.

FIG. 10 is similar to FIG. 9 showing the insert fully expanded to firmlyengage the inner pocket wall for retention therein.

FIG. 11 is an exploded view in perspective ofa fourth I modificationtogether with a hollow stake FIG. 12 shows the parts of FIG. 11 inpartly assembled relation in vertical cross-section.

FIG. 13 shows the parts of FIG. 12 in fully assembled relation.

The socket, commonly known as a stake pocket, conventionally provided oncargo carriers'such as open flat bed trucks, trailers or railway cars,is shown in FIG. I as a channel section 1 of metal having flanges 3extending outwardly from the upper ends of the side walls thereof. Theseflanges are secured, as by welding, to

' the metal strap 5 which extends about the edge of the floor of thecargo carrier, the strap forming one wall of the socket. While the stakepocket is here shown as rectangular in cross-section, it may be oval orof other geometric shape and it is understood that the insert or adapterof this invention will be correspondingly shaped. The insert or adapter7 is of generally open box-like form having a bottom and an'open topwith one side wall of the box removed. Each of the remaining three sidewalls is provided at its face end with an outwardly extending flange 9a,9b and 9c, respectively. The adapter is made of flat sheet metal whichcan be stamped out to form the sides, which are then folded to form thegenerally box-like structure above described. The side walls of theinsert 7 are provided with fingers or lances llwhich may be struck orpunched out from the material of the walls. i

The insert 1 is assembled to the pocket 7 by inserting it therein withthe bottom wall thereof down and the open side of the adapter toward thestrap 5. As shown in FIG. 3, the adapter is forced downwardly until theflanges 9a, 9b, 9c seat on the top edge of the socket wall, the fingersor lances ll providing pressure against the pocket wall to maintain the.insert firmly therewithin. The insert, together with the strap 5,provides a pocket of predetermined dimensions within which a stake Shaving a bottom portion of corresponding di- -mensions may be firmlyseated. Regardless of varia tions in dimensions of the pockets which areoriginally furnished with the cargo carrier, a stake having a bottomportion of standard predetermined dimensions may be supported thereinwith the above described adapter. Where the original pocket on thevehicle is of greatly oversized dimensions, a second insert, such as 13in FIG. 4, may be provided which is constructed similarly to theadapter'7 but dimensioned on the one hand, to fit within the socket withits fingers or lances 11' in firm engagement with thesocket wall whileon the other hand, forming a pocket of the proper dimensions to receivea smaller but standard sized adapter 7 which can firmly retain a stakeof standard dimensions stead, the bottom wall of the adapter is providedwith an opening 17 and a threaded nut 19 may be welded to the bottomwall with its threaded bore in alignment with the opening. Afterinserting the adapter in the socket until the flanges 9a-9c rest on theupper edge of the socket wall, a rigid plate 21 having a dimension toextend across and beyond the bottom edge of the socket wall is provided.The plate has an opening 21 aligned with the opening 17 for theinsertion of a threaded bolt 23 which threads into the nut 19 to firmlysecure the adapter therein.

In the modification of FIG. 7, the adapter comprises a solid block 25 ofresilient, compressible material which can be inserted in the socket.The block is pro-' vided with a central longitudinal bore 27 therein foraccommodating an elongated threaded bolt 29 extending therethrough. Thestake, which is to be of standardized dimensions here shown as 31, maybe of hollow construction, if so desired, and provided with alongitudinally extending cylindrical member 33 which is internallythreaded and secured to the inner wall of the stake. Secured to orintegral with the outer surface of the stake is a bar T which isT-shaped in cross-section with the head of the T-spaced from the surfaceof the stake to form a pair of grooves therebetween for the respectivereception of the edge portions of panels, as described in myaforementioned copending U.S. Pat. application Ser. No. 186,051.

A bottom pressure plate 35 having a central opening is adapted to fitwithin the socket against the bottom of the block 25 when the latter isinserted therein. A top pressure plate 37 having a central opening andof dimensions to extend across and be supported by the top edge of thesocket l, is provided with a depressed central portion 39 of a shapeanddimensions to seat the base portion of the stake therein, the bottomwall of the depression preferably fitting within the socket. With theplate 37 supported on top of the socket wall and the stake within theseat 39, the block 25 may be inserted upwardly from the open bottom ofthe socket 1 against the upper pressure plate 37, as shown in FIG. 9.The

bolt 29 is slipped through the bottom pressure plate 35 and theninserted through the opening in the block for threaded engagement withthe threads .of the cylinder 33 within the hollow stake. By rotating thebolt 29 with its threaded end within the cylindrical member 33, thepressure plates are forced towards one another thus compressing theblock 25 lengthwise to expand it laterally into firm engagement with thesocket wall as shown in FIG. 10.

In the modification shown in FIGS. 1 l-l3, the socket insert or adapteris comprised of a rectangular block of order to secure the block 41within the socket, there are provided at least three wedge members 47,each of which has one face 470 tapered to the same degree as the face ofthe block 41 but in the opposite direction. The faces 47b opposite thetapered faces 47a conform to the shape of the socket wall which as shownis flat. The block 41 is provided with a central longitudinal bore whichis threaded to receive a bolt 51. Since the wedges 47 and block 41 areoppositely tapered, the latter will be held firmly between the taperedfaces of the wedges when the block ismoved downwardly relative to thewedges, while the latter are within the socket sure plate 59 is providedagainst which the lower ends of the wedges abut, sothat upon rotation ofthe bolt 57, the head thereof bears against the plate to force thewedges upwardly while its threaded end within threaded bore 49 forcesthe block downwardly to generate large lateral pressures for securingthe block within the socket. Obviously, the arrangement just describedis effective to mount the block within sockets of various dimensions.The block 41 may be of metal, wood or rubber and be capable ofwithstanding sufficient pressure to maintain itself and the wedgesfirmly within the socket. Although the socket and block 41 are describedas being rectangular in cross-section, obviously other shapes withcorresponding changes in the shape of the wedges may be effectively.utilized.

Having thus described the invention with the required particularity, itshould be understood that such description is merely illustrative and isnot intended as being limiting; and that obvious changes in structureshall fall within the scope of the invention as set forth in thefollowing claims.-

material 41 having tapering sides which converge What is claimed is:

1. An adapter for supporting a stake having one end of predeterminedshape and dimensions rigidly upright in substantially verticallyextending sockets of various sizes mounted about the edge of a vehiclefloor comprising,

a trough-shaped member having a wall across one end and open at itsopposite end 'insertable in the socket with its open end facingupwardly,

means on the member forming a stop for limiting the distance of itsentry into a socket,

means on the member bearing against the socket walls for retaining themember firmly within the socket with the mouth of the trough toward theplatform as to form, with a portion of the socket wall facing thetrough, a second socket providing an unobstructed volume ofsubstantially said predetermined dimensions to snugly receive a staketherein supported on said end wall.

2. An adapter as defined in claim 1, in which the means for retainingthe member within the socket comprises a plate extending across andagainst the lower end of the socket, and cooperating nut and bolt meanson the plate and end wall of the trough-shaped member for securing it inposition within the socket.

3. An adapter as defined in claim '1 wherein the means on the memberbearing against the'socket walls comprise a plurality of spacedprojections mounted on t the member for adjustable movement against thesocket walls.

comprises lateral flanges projecting from the walls of the memberadjacent said open end.

6. An adapter according to claim 4 wherein the fingers comprise lancesstruck out from the material of the wall of the member with one endintegral with the wall and forming the stiffly yieldable connection.

1. An adapter for supporting a stake having one end of predeterminedshape and dimensions rigidly upright in substantially verticallyextending sockets of various sizes mounted about the edge of a vehiclefloor comprising, a trough-shaped member having a wall across one endand open at its opposite end insertable in the socket with its open endfacing upwardly, means on the member forming a stop for limiting thedistance of its entry into a socket, means on the member bearing againstthe socket walls for retaining the member firmly within the socket withthe mouth of the trough toward the platform as to form, with a portionof the socket wall facing the trough, a second socket providing anunobstructed volume of substantially said predetermined dimensions tosnugly receive a stake therein supported on said end wall.
 2. An adapteras defined in claim 1, in which the means for retaining the memberwithin the socket comprises a plate extending across and against thelower end of the socket, and cooperating nut and bolt means on the plateand end wall of the trough-shaped member for securing it in positionwithin the socket.
 3. An adapter as defined in claim 1 wherein the meanson the member bearing against the socket walls comprise a plurality ofspaced projections mounted on the member for adjustable movement againstthe socket walls.
 4. An adapter according to claim 1 wherein the meansfor retaining the member firmly within the socket comprises a pluralityof fingers extending outwardly from the wall of the member into pressureengagement with the inner wall of the socket, said fingers beingattached at one end to the walls of the member by a stiffly resilientconnection.
 5. An adapter as defined in claim 4 wherein the stopcomprises lateral flanges projecting from the walls of the memberadjacent said open end.
 6. An adapter according to claim 4 wherein thefingers comprise lances struck out from the material of the wall of themember with one end integral with the wall and forming the stifflyyieldable connection.